DHA Physiotherapist Exam MCQs 2026

DHA Physiotherapist Prometric Exam Overview

The Dubai Health Authority administers this licensing examination for physical therapists seeking to practice across government hospitals, private rehabilitation facilities, outpatient sports clinics, and long-term care institutions in Dubai. The test assesses clinical musculoskeletal assessment, neurological recovery pathways, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, physical modalities, and exercise prescription. Candidates can book their testing date through Prometric once their professional degree, clinical background, and DataFlow primary source verification are approved on the DHA Sheryan portal.

Exam Parameter	Details
Exam Title	Dubai Prometric Physiotherapy Exam
Authority	Dubai Health Authority (DHA)
Delivery Mode	Prometric Computer-Based Test (CBT)
Exam Code	PHY5121
Question Format	Multiple-Choice (Single Best Answer)
Number of MCQs	150 questions
Exam Duration	3 hours (180 minutes)
Passing Score	60%
Negative Marking	None
Language	English
Score Result	Pass / Fail outcome reflected on the Sheryan portal
Score Validity	5 years

Detailed Syllabus & Domain Breakdown

The examination syllabus focuses on evidence-based assessment, clinical reasoning, and safe functional rehabilitation. Case vignettes evaluate your ability to interpret physical findings, choose appropriate manual or electrotherapeutic modalities, design progressive loading programs, and recognize medical red flags that require urgent physician referral.

Specialty Module	Core Topics	Key Focus Areas & Clinical Scenarios
Musculoskeletal & Orthopedic Assessment	Joint arthrokinematics, capsular patterns, special orthopedic tests (Lachman, McMurray, Hawkins-Kennedy, Neer, Thomas), spinal posture, and gait analysis.	Differentiating mechanical lower back pain from radiculopathy, screening red flags for cauda equina syndrome, identifying rotator cuff pathology, and assessing ligamentous knee tears.
Orthopedic Rehabilitation & Post-Surgical Care	Fracture healing phases, post-operative protocols (ACL reconstruction, total knee/hip arthroplasty, rotator cuff repair), tendinopathy management, and joint mobilizations (Maitland, Kaltenborn).	Safe range-of-motion progression after tendon repair, eccentric loading for chronic tendinopathies, closed vs. open kinetic chain exercise selection, and total joint replacement precautions.
Neurological Rehabilitation	Stroke rehabilitation (Brunnstrom stages, Bobath/NDT concept, constraint-induced movement therapy), traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury (ASIA impairment scale), and Parkinson’s disease.	Positioning to prevent hemiplegic shoulder subluxation, managing spasticity vs. rigidity, cueing strategies for Parkinsonian gait freezing, and functional transfers based on spinal cord injury level.
Cardiopulmonary Physiotherapy	Breathing retraining (diaphragmatic, pursed-lip), airway clearance techniques (postural drainage, percussion, active cycle of breathing), phase I–III cardiac rehabilitation, and arterial blood gas basics.	Exercise prescription using METs and Borg RPE scale, mobilizing intensive care unit patients, vital sign exercise termination criteria, and secretion clearance in COPD or bronchiectasis.
Therapeutic Modalities & Electrotherapy	Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), Interferential Current (IFC), therapeutic ultrasound (thermal vs. non-thermal duty cycles), cryotherapy, thermotherapy, and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES).	Choosing electrotherapy parameters for acute vs. chronic pain, avoiding ultrasound over epiphyseal plates or metal implants, and contraindications regarding cardiac pacemakers and pregnancy.
Therapeutic Exercise & Movement Science	Muscle contraction types (isometric, isotonic, isokinetic), Progressive Resistive Exercise (PRE) models (DeLorme, Oxford), stretching mechanics, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF), and plyometrics.	Designing core stabilization progressions, applying PNF hold-relax and contract-relax techniques for contractures, open vs. closed chain load grading, and power training stages.
Pediatric & Geriatric Physiotherapy	Normal infant gross motor milestones, cerebral palsy (GMFCS classification), torticollis, clubfoot, sarcopenia, balance assessment tools (Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go), and osteoporosis care.	Designing sensory-motor activities for developmental delay, positioning for spastic diplegia, fall risk stratifications (Berg score under 45), and safe weight-bearing protocols for osteoporotic spine.
Sports Injuries, Soft Tissue & Ergonomics	Acute soft tissue management (PEACE and LOVE protocol), muscle strains, ankle sprains, biomechanical foot assessments, workstation desk ergonomics, and manual lifting biomechanics.	Return-to-sport testing batteries, functional screening for muscle imbalances, assessing computer workstation posture, and mitigating repetitive strain risks in desk workers.
Safety, Infection Control & Professional Ethics	Standard universal precautions, transmission-based isolation, wheelchair and crutch sizing, incident reporting, patient autonomy, informed consent, and UAE DHA practice bylaws.	Preventing cross-infection during hydrotherapy or wound management, handling fall events during gait training, ethical boundaries with vulnerable patients, and legal clinical record documentation.

DHA Physiotherapist Exam MCQs